Tube-flaring tool



Jan. 15, 1963 G. E. FRANCK 3,073,375

TUBE-FLARING TOOL Filed Feb. 2, 1960 INV EN TOR.

- GeolgeZanc/,

ww/3% @en x xm@ structed, and which provides United Sttes ate This invention lrelates to tube-haring l,tools and in particular to manually operable tube-flaring tools.

Conventional manually operable 'tube-llaring tools are 10 provided rwith the tube-clamping means for holding the tube xedly during Ithe aring operation. It is desirable that the tool be adapted 'to are tubes having anyone of a plurality` ofdifrerentdiameters, 'such as ranging from Vs" to 5A, To provide such universality of use, clamping means have lbeen devised including elongated clamp'-y ing blocks having different diameter tubeclamping grooves spaced longitudinally therein. Alternatively, clamping means have been developed wherein the clampf ing blocks are relatively small and are provided with only 20 one or two different tube-clamping grooves, thetooly being arranged to receive .selectively'diierent ones ofl apl'urality of such blocks Vto accommodate the full vrange of tube sizes. The disadvantages of relatively large` sizeand ice , 2 substantiallyalon'g the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrat# ing the arrangement of the tool upon completing the'aring of a tube end therein, theyoke being shown in dotted lines ina reverse arrangement for flaring a dierent diam-y eter tube therein;

FIG`. 3 is a rear elevation xthereof partially in section taken substantially along the line 3 3 of FIG'. l; Vand f "FIGZ 4 is a fragmentary section taken'substantially along the line 4 -4 of FIG. 3, but with the blocks Vrepositioned from the position thereof in FIGS. l through 3. In the exemplary embodiment of Ithe invention as disclosed in the drawing,a tube' flaring tool generally designated 10 comprises a pair ofclamping blocks 11 and 12, retained in a carrier 13, for holding a tube, such as tube T; to begllared.v The tool further includes a Haring cone `14 on one end of a rod 15 threadedly associated with vone end 16 of a C-shaped yoke generally designated 17.

tube'iclamping' structures tol clamp selectively iei'ghtcorreresultant unwieldiness ofthe elongated'blo'ck type clampf 25 n I structures whil'efyet'permittingitpolm tube lextremely ing means, and the easeof loss of'iridividualblocks in the ,individual small type block clamping means have been serious. problems in the conventional tube-ilaring Y tools. 1 v, Similarly; the -rneansrprovided in the conventional tools for carrying the clamping 4blockshave not proven com@ pletely satisfactory.- Lack ofsuic ient rigidity,- lack/ofl protection to the clamping blocks against Achipping of the edges, etc.'y and slippage offthe yoke'ffrom the clamping means are examplesof Ysuch additional disadvantages of Y the conventional tube-aring*tools.

- The present invention -is` concerned with anewand im-v provedtubediaring tool effectively eliminating each of the dis'advantagesfof .the conventional4 Itoolsdiscussed above and 'p ro'vidinglan improved -facility` of nsefnotl foundin the' known manually operable tube-haring'tools'. A in. l, n

' It is the-:principal objectof the present invention, there,-

s'po'ndinglyv different diameter tubes to be ared. l To proi vide thisdesirablelarge number of 'different tubefclamping having a new and improved carrier forming 4one portion of the tube-clamping means.,i f

Still 'another' object 'ofthe invention is .to-providelsuch a tube-flaring tool having a ,new and improved coactin yoke'and clamping mea 11`s-fstr'ucture.4 f* f A stillfurther object "off the in'ventionis to provide'such a tube-,flaring tool which is compact, econorriically;con;l

improvedY facilitatedgopera-i4 'tion-lwitlilthe"accompanyingidfawingsfwhel-ih y; a

g e yoke A facilitated application aiid-uele'a's'of'the'tubiclainping ving'f structurei :vided v vith a iirst 'groei/e311corresponding to'fa SG diam- 'eten tube Iand a secondf#groovefZcorresponding to'a i 3/8 diameter tube, {Thus} when v"corresponding "side y surffaces offthe' t'ube'blocks 11 "and 12j aref'juxtaposed,x the semieylindr'ical 'grooves thereoflcoopera'teftoformia pair of cylindrical tube-clamping.- structures corresponding .to two diier'ent diameter tubes; vfl`liunf/"depending':on which ofthe side surfaces are juittaposed, fourA different pairsf fclampi-n'gstructures maybe fornied, 'f ji j ThecarrierJlS, in which the clamping blocks- 111 an 12- are lretained, is. arranged for'facilitated positioning'f'f I the' blocksinieachffofhe four arrangements; and' for pressure to" hold theftubef-end-in thefselected ,ti'ibelamp/ r4More*specifically;`Carrien 'cast r lll-shaped member lhaving` elongatedffleg lpr 'vided longitudinally extending grooves'r` spectively jin *whichlth'e edges fof blocks- `"1 1 an as the-carrier fto be substantially reduced; iu.

pressure bar 40 is pivotally mounted in space 38 on a split pin 41 having its opposite ends fixed in leg end 37. The height of bar 40 corresponds to the height of grooves 35 and 36 and to the height of clamping blocks 11 and 12. The distal end 42 of pressure bar 40 is provided with a slot 43 freely accommodating a bolt 44 which is pivotally mounted on end 45 of carrier leg 33 by a split pin 46. A wing nut 47 is threaded to the outer end of the bolt 44 and, when advanced against the pressure bar 42 with bolt 44 extending through slot 43, forcibly pivots the pressure bar in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG- URE l to force the clamping blocks 11 and 12 toward the closed end 48 of the carrier, thereby clamping a tube end, such as tube end T, between the blocks in the preelected clamping structure of the confronting side suraces.

`Flaring cone 14 is carried on the threaded rod 15 which is moved longitudinally as a result of the rotation thereof as by a handle 48. The inturned end 18 of yoke 17 which is apposed to flaring cone 14 is spaced from mid-portion 49 ofthe `yoke sufficiently to assure that it clears the car- Iier legs 33 and 34 permitting inner surface 50 to abut the bottom surface 20 of the clamping blocks and hold `the clamping blocks against the substantial forces generated by the flaring cone 14 during the liaring operation. Inturned end 18 is further defined by an inner shoulder 51 and an outer shoulder 52 extending perpendicularly to the plane of end surface 50 and providing a positive abutment of end 18 with legs 34 and 33 respectively to prevent the yoke from inadvertently slipping from the clamping means.

As discussed above, each of the side surfaces of one clamping block is arranged to form with the correspondto flare the end of a tube T having a nominal diameter of 5%". To clamp tube T in the flaring tool, the clamping blocks are arranged with surface 23 of clamping block 11 confronting the corresponding surface 23' of clamping block 12. Should the clamping blocks be disposed in carrier 13 with the other side surface in confronting relationship, such as shown in FIGURE 4, it is first necessary to rearrange the blocks to have the indicated relationship. To effect this, wing nut 47 is loosened on bolt 44 and bolt 44 is pivoted, in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 4, to release support bar 40 and permit it to be pivoted on pin 41 in a clockwise direction to expose the open end of the U-shaped carrier 13. Blocks 11 and 12 are then removed from the carrier by sliding them longitudinally through grooves and 36. The blocks are reinstalled with surfaces 23 and 23' confronting as shown in FIGURES 1-3. Pressure bar 40 is then swung in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 1 into abutment with surface 21 of clamping block 11 and bolt 44 is swung in a clockwise direction to extend through slot 43 in vthe distal end 42 of the pressure bar 40.

The end of tube T is positioned in the tubecla`mping structure defined by confronting clamping block grooves` 30 and 30' to terminate substantially flush with the upper surface 19 of the clamping blocks. Wing nut 47 is then advanced on bolt 44 to ybear against end 42 of pressure bar and urge the pressure bar forcibly against clamping block surface 21, thereby forcibly clamping tube end T in the clamping blocks. d

Yoke 17 is associated with the tube-clamping means as shown in FIGURE 2 to extend around leg 34 of the carrier 13, and handle 48 is manipulated to thread rod 15 ing side surface of the other block two different-diarneter .tube-clamping structures. As best seen in vFIGURE 4, one clamping structure may be considered as being adjacentA `carrier leg '34 and the other clamping structure may be considered as being adjacent carrier leg `33.v Referring now to FAIGUREZ, it shouldbe noted that when it is desited to flare a ,tube lamped` in the clamping structure adjacent leg 34, yoke 17 is arranged to Yextend around leg downwardly through yoke end 1,6. Inturned end 18 of fthe yoke.`1 7 is disposed to bear againstthe bottom surface 20 of the clamping blocks and support the clanipf ing blocks against the substantial forces developed by 34 whereby the flaring cone 14tis generally aligned4 with the clamping structure adjacentA the leg 34.,v Where the tubeto be flared is clamped in the clamping `structure ad`- jacent the opposite leg 33, the yoke is reversely positioned, ,asshown in dotted linesin FIGURE 2 to extend around leg 33, whereby the flaring cone is automatically generally aligned with the clamping structure adjacentwleg 33. Thus, foreach position of theoblocks 11 and12 in the carrier,

,two tubeclamping structures are provided which may be selectively utilized by disposing the yoke IZinthe reversely a l ternative positions at opposite sides of the carrier. `Asbest seen gin .FIGURE 2,jthe center of theyend `surface the flaring cone 14;..4

' i Upon completion of theliring operation, the` -aring' cone 14 is withdrawn by a retrograde manpulationof handle 48. Wing nut 47 may be loosened sufliciently` to permit a spacing between clamping blocks 11 and 12 suitable to permit a withdrawal of the flared end of tube T. Should the subsequent tube-to be flared be a Va" tube, or a is" tubecorresponding tothe other groove of the pair in clamping block surfaces 23 and 23'-, the clamping t blocks may be` allowed to remain in the carrier, the subsequent tube end inserted in the appropriate ltube clampY ing structure, th'ewing nut 47 retightened to fix the tube end therein, andthe flaring 'cone brought into flaring' `en gagementwith the tube end by suitable manipulation of handle 48. Where the subsequent tube is a-Mr" tube,

' the Ayoke'17 'need merely be reversely positioned on the midway betweenshoulders 51 and 52 is spaced `further f from yoke mid-portion 49 than is'4 the axis of flaring cone 14. The axes Ao f, the groove pairs ineach blockside surf face are Voppositely spaced from the centerlineoftheY side surface whereby the flaring coneis generally aligned with the selected" tubeclamping structure when thesurface 50 is` centered relative to he blocks. .p

As indicated above, itis desirable thatthe flaring tool 10 be made compact. Toward this end, the longitudinal mid-portion 53 of each leg is provided with a segmental frusto-conical chamfer 5,4 accommodating a portion of the flaring cone14` where the -tubefclarnping structurerisclosely adjacent `the carrier legs, Furtheigfas the'support s ur- `faceStIgisrcenteredmelative tofthelblockswhen thecone` i ,axis is aligned `with the selected vclamping structure, a substantial` support area is provided withoutinterference With the carrerlegs as would occur if the surface 50 and `coneaxs werezdirectly aligned. As ensuit, the spacing i between legs 33Yaud 34 maybe effectively minimized, 'perspitting the size and weight `of the clamping blocks '111e use of .fiaringftooli 10;isextremely simple. 'v

. fected as indicated.

cartier `as shown in dotted lines in `FIGURE 2to` effect thetflaring of the tube in the clamping block structur'edefined by grooves 29 and 29'2v Where the subsequent ,tube to be flared is one havinga diameter other' than f/s or {Ai/Q the clamping blocks need merely be suitably reposi.` tioned, as described above, Iand the flaring operation ef- While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to beV understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore,` in construction and arrangement may bemade without departing from the spiriLand scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claim.

"I claim:

apair` of allochiral clamp blocks havinggenerally Square, parallel top and bottom surfaces defined tbysidesurfaces each'of which is provided 4withapair of, semicylindrical grooves axially perpendicular.4 to said, top and bottom surfaces; .aVv U-shaped member having. legs provided with l mutually confronting longitudinal channels -fdr'slidably receiving the blocks with-correspondingside surfaces don fronting each other :to define selectively fourls,ide-lgyfsidgn` In a tube-flaringtool, tube-clampingmeans including 5 pairs of cylindrical tube-clamping grooves, means engaging the legs at the open end of the member operable to apply a tube-clamping force to the blocks, and a C-shaped yoke having one end carrying a aringtool, a mid-portion, and an opposite inturned end extending through the space between the legs of the Ushaped member to abut removably the blocks vand support the same against a tube-ilaring force developed by said Haring tool, said inturned end Ibeing spaced from said mid-portion a distance preselected to permit the yoke to straddle selectively either leg of the U-shaped member with the inturned end substantially centered between said legs when the Haring tool is aligned 6 with the `axis of either tube-clamping groove of the pair' defined by the confronting semicylindrical grooves.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,878 Eden Oct. 16, 1934 2,277,410 Neukirch Mar. 24, 1942 2,302,794 Neukirch Nov. 24, 1942 2,314,221 Kelle-ms Mar. 16, 1943 2,852,839 Wilson .f.. Sept. 23, 1958 2,892,480 Franck June 30, 1959 2,998,839 Ingwer Sept. 5, 1961` 

